Recaps

Jiang Liu attended the Ascension Tower auction and won a tamed sixth-grade Giant Strength Demonic Ape along with its Beast Mastery Art control method. After recording the cultivation art, he left the beast in Ascension Tower’s care and ran into Feng Yi and Feng Qijia outside his room.

• Jiang Liu arrived at Ascension Tower and learned that the Exotic Beast Valley disciple was too busy to meet him before the auction.
• Mo Yi told Murong Lie that he planned to auction tamed exotic beasts and Exotic Beast Valley’s foundational cultivation art, claiming the cultivation art auction was his father’s idea.
• Murong Yin began the auction and announced that the winning bidder for the Giant Strength Demonic Ape would receive its control method.
• Pang Chunlong and Feng Yi competed for the ape before Jiang Liu bid two hundred thousand taels and won it.
• Murong Yin delivered the Beast Mastery Art booklet to Jiang Liu, who recorded it and arranged to collect the ape later.
• Jiang Liu left his private room and encountered Feng Yi and Feng Qijia waiting outside.

Jiang Liu struggled to cultivate the Beast Mastery Art until its spiritual power fused with his Soul Art power, then learned that the Deity Summoning Society and the Martial Prohibition Hall had fought a devastating battle. He headed to Ascension Tower to test his new power on the Giant Strength Demonic Ape.

• After Jiang Liu left Ascension Tower, Feng Qijia warned Feng Yi to spend less time with him, but Feng Yi dismissed his cousin’s advice and reflected on Jiang Liu’s rapid progress and unusual spending.
• Jiang Liu cultivated the Beast Mastery Art, but his Soul Art spiritual power repeatedly swallowed the new power; he discovered that the practice still expanded his consciousness.
• After several days, Jiang Liu’s spiritual powers fused, and he learned that the Beast Mastery Art used pressure, communication, and a spiritual imprint to tame exotic beasts.
• At Leisurely Abode, a waiter told Jiang Liu that the White Saint Society members had been executed and Xiahou Yi and the young masters had left Wind City.
• The waiter reported that the Deity Summoning Society and the Martial Prohibition Hall had clashed, killing two Rank 9 practitioners, a branch director, and many lower-ranked fighters.
• Jiang Liu finished his morning tea and went to Ascension Tower to test his fused spiritual power on the Giant Strength Demonic Ape.

Jiang Liu checked on the Giant Strength Demonic Ape, strengthened his cultivation, and reunited with Uncle Hai in the commandery city. Uncle Hai shared news from Cloud Sun City before leaving to return to Medicine King Valley.

• Jiang Liu visited Ascension Tower, used his mental power to bond with the Giant Strength Demonic Ape, and left it in the tower’s care after reassuring it.
• Jiang Liu paid for the ape’s care, upgraded his Ascension Token to gold, and continued cultivating until his field of consciousness reached a radius of four hundred meters.
• Jiang Liu resumed cultivating internal energy and met Uncle Hai at Leisurely Abode.
• Uncle Hai told Jiang Liu that Fallen Blossom Gang had disbanded, refugees and prices had increased in Cloud Sun City, and White Saint Society had been outlawed for colluding with Corpse Valley and killing officials.
• Uncle Hai said he was returning to Medicine King Valley, and Jiang Liu wished him a safe journey and promised to help if needed.

On New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu saw the Vast Righteous Sect distributing food to refugees, then joined Feng Yi for a drunken visit to the Yi Hua Brothel. He woke beside Feng Yue with no memory of how she had arrived and fled before she stirred.

• Jiang Liu noticed the Vast Righteous Sect Relief Station handing rice and flour to refugees outside Wind City.
• Feng Yi persuaded Jiang Liu to celebrate New Year's Eve at the Yi Hua Brothel, which belonged to his family.
• Jiang Liu and Feng Yi drank with the brothel women and listened to music until Jiang Liu became intoxicated and fell asleep.
• Jiang Liu woke beside Feng Yue, found nothing unusual had happened, and left the room without waking her.
• Feng Yue woke in the unfamiliar room, confused about how she had gotten there.

Jiang Liu tried to make sense of the Feng Family’s scheme while Feng Yue confronted Feng Yi and the family elders discussed their plans involving Jiang Liu and the Lotus Sect. After training pushed his spiritual power beyond its limits, the Jade Anomaly Tree worsened the surge and Jiang Liu fainted.

• Jiang Liu concluded that Feng Yi had not arranged the encounter with Feng Yue and decided to wait for the Feng Family to reveal its intentions.
• Feng Yue chased Feng Yi through Yi Hua Brothel, then returned to the Feng Family to demand answers from her family.
• Feng Boyun and his sons discussed the plan involving the Lotus Sect and Jiang Liu, and Feng Boyun ordered Feng Yunshi to appease Feng Yue and explain matters to Jiang Liu.
• Feng Boyun told Feng Yunshu to keep watch over the children in his household and instructed his other sons to monitor changes in Wind City.
• Jiang Liu exhausted his spiritual power with Annihilation by Thought and began cultivating the Beast Mastery Art, but the Soul Art circulated on its own and made his spiritual power surge.
• The Jade Anomaly Tree poured spiritual power into Jiang Liu’s compressed spiritual lake, causing his mind to go blank and leaving him unconscious.

Jiang Liu advanced his spirit power to the Grandmaster level, discovered Pang Chunlong’s secret cultivation site, and uncovered the Plum Blossom Sect’s activities in Wind City. The next morning, Feng Yi persuaded Jiang Liu to visit the Feng Family estate.

• Jiang Liu awoke with Divine Sense and a sea of consciousness, then tested its range to more than five hundred meters in the Ten Thousand Mountains.
• Jiang Liu followed a Man in Black to a cave, subdued six guards, and learned that Pang Chunlong was using an evil technique to drain martial practitioners’ vital energy.
• Jiang Liu confronted Pang Chunlong, learned he had received the technique from the Plum Blossom Sect, killed him, and freed the captives in a neighboring chamber.
• Jiang Liu searched the mountains for high-grade mutated beasts without success, then returned to Wind City and resumed cultivating.
• Feng Yi visited Jiang Liu the next morning and persuaded him to accompany him to the Feng Family estate.

Jiang Liu visited the Feng Family, where Feng Yunshi asked him to accept a nominal engagement to protect the family from the Lotus Sect’s pressure. After agreeing, Jiang Liu sensed a Grandmaster’s aura and became curious about the Daoist school when he saw a Celestial Master in the market.

• Feng Yunshi explained that the Feng Family had spread news of Jiang Liu’s engagement to Feng Yunshi’s daughter to resist the Lotus Sect’s marriage pressure.
• Jiang Liu agreed to the nominal engagement, deciding the alliance could serve as a useful shield despite his discomfort.
• As Jiang Liu left the Feng residence, he sensed a Grandmaster’s aura, while Feng Boyun sensed Jiang Liu’s formidable spiritual power.
• On the way home, Jiang Liu saw a Daoist Celestial Master drawing talismans and learned that the Daoist school had a temple near Wind City.
• Jiang Liu reflected on the many schools and sects in the Jianghu and resolved to grow stronger so he could roam freely.

Jiang Liu learned that the Sun Moon Sect and Moonfall Sect were still clashing in Yun City after Ouyang Han crippled Wei Yi, then turned down Feng Yi and Feng Yue’s invitation. Meanwhile, a Saint Envoy pressured several local figures to finish their assignments, leaving Guild Master He and Guild Master Jia under strict deadlines.

• Jiang Liu heard that Xiahou Yi’s capture had led Ouyang Han to cripple Wei Yi and sparked an ongoing conflict between the Sun Moon Sect and Moonfall Sect.
• Feng Yi invited Jiang Liu to leave the city and offer incense, but Jiang Liu refused, and Feng Yue left with her brother after apologizing for the disturbance.
• A Saint Envoy questioned Family Head Pang and Guild Master He about their progress, then gave Guild Master He half a month to finish his assignment.
• The Saint Envoy learned that two others had finished and warned Guild Master Jia to complete his remaining work within a few more days before vanishing.

Jiang Liu broke through to Rank 9, tested his new strength in the Ten Thousand Mountains, and killed a Rank 9 Three-Blossom Serpent. In Cloud City, Xiahou Yi began cultivating the Mystic Yin Succubus Art while Ouyang Han decided to leave her to her own devices.

• Jiang Liu left Wind City to break through in the woods and advanced to Rank 9, having already reached the Grandmaster Realm in spiritual power.
• Jiang Liu headed into the Ten Thousand Mountains to test his strength and ignored a fight between two groups of martial practitioners.
• Jiang Liu found a Rank 9 Three-Blossom Serpent, immobilized and shattered it with Eight Steps of Trampling and Frost Nether Palm, then collected its beast core.
• Xiahou Yi recalled her abduction by Wei Yi and Ouyang Han's rejection, then chose to cultivate the Sun Moon Sect's Mystic Yin Succubus Art.
• Ouyang Han watched Xiahou Yi with Feng Qijia and Pang Li, struck Old Zhu when he approached, and ordered him to stop interfering with her.

Jiang Liu traveled deeper into the Ten Thousand Mountains, killed an Azure Jade Sky-Devouring Serpent, and then fought a Lesser Beast King called the Dwarf Dragon. After killing it and collecting its beast core and meat, he decided to continue cultivating in the mountains.

• Jiang Liu killed the ninth-grade Azure Jade Sky-Devouring Serpent with Annihilation by Thought and found its colorless beast core.
• Jiang Liu tried to retreat after traveling more than ten li without seeing another ninth-grade exotic beast, but a Lesser Beast King attacked him with mental and spiritual-energy assaults.
• Jiang Liu identified the attacker as a wounded Dwarf Dragon and targeted its injured left ribs while evading its claws and roars.
• Jiang Liu stabbed the Dwarf Dragon with an Ice Blade, pursued it as it tried to escape, and brought it crashing to the ground with another strike.
• Jiang Liu waited until the Dwarf Dragon died, found its colorless beast core, and cut meat from its body for food.
• Jiang Liu decided to remain in the Ten Thousand Mountains and continue cultivating.

Pang Wangchun, Pu Duan, and Jiekong secretly joined forces, while Jiang Liu continued through the Ten Thousand Mountains and collected two Rank 9 beast cores. The chapter left Jiang Liu searching deeper into the mountains for the Lesser Beast King that had fought the Dwarf Dragon.

• Xiao Yuping waited for Pang Wangchun, who visited her and promised she would become the Pang Family master if she bore a son.
• Pu Duan and Jiekong arrived, and the three men played mahjong with Xiao Yuping before secretly discussing their cooperation.
• Jiang Liu finished refining the Dwarf Dragon's beast core and two Rank 9 beast cores, then set out to search for the Lesser Beast King.
• Jiang Liu sensed the Sky-Rending Ape and the Violent Bear fighting, killed both beasts, and took their beast cores.
• Jiang Liu continued cautiously toward the depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Jiang Liu subdued the wounded Frostwing Dragon and brought it to the Dwarf Dragon’s corpse, which it began devouring. After recovering overnight, the Frostwing Dragon could communicate with him, and Jiang Liu left it to recuperate while he continued deeper into the mountains to hunt for more ninth-grade strange beasts.

• Jiang Liu attacked the creature in the deep pool and drew out the wounded Frostwing Dragon.
• Jiang Liu battered the Frostwing Dragon until it stopped resisting his Beast Mastery Art, allowing him to brand it with a mental mark.
• Jiang Liu led the Frostwing Dragon to the Dwarf Dragon’s corpse, where it tore off and ate the dragon’s tail.
• Jiang Liu roasted some Dwarf Dragon meat and gave the Frostwing Dragon a bite before cultivating with a ninth-grade strange beast core.
• After a night of rest, the Frostwing Dragon’s wounds improved and it communicated basic information to Jiang Liu.
• Jiang Liu left the Dwarf Dragon’s corpse with the Frostwing Dragon by the deep pool and continued into the mountains alone.

Jiang Liu killed two ninth-grade exotic beasts, harvested Dark Fragrance Fruits, and narrowly escaped a powerful white figure pursuing his soul. The figure, Gui Shan, reached a cave and met A Duanpo, where they began discussing a joint plan between the Ghost School and the Lotus Sect.

• Jiang Liu killed a tiger-shaped and a lion-shaped ninth-grade exotic beast and collected their beast cores and all eight Dark Fragrance Fruits.
• Jiang Liu sensed a dangerous presence while cultivating and fled when a white figure arrived, searching for his soul.
• Jiang Liu smashed a Dark Fragrance Fruit to mask his trail and escaped the white figure, then ate another fruit to cultivate.
• The white figure reached a cave, where A Duanpo confronted Gui Shan for arriving late.
• Gui Shan and A Duanpo began discussing the cooperation between the Ghost School and the Lotus Sect.

Jiang Liu strengthened his cultivation in the Ten Thousand Mountains and discovered a Ghost School soul-summoning ritual that disrupted his ability to absorb Mental Particles. The ritual ended with Gui Shan satisfied by the sect members’ gains, while Jiang Liu remained wary after barely protecting his mental sea.

• Jiang Liu refined the Dark Fragrance Fruit, tested his control over materialized primal qi and Ice Blades, and practiced his combat techniques.
• Jiang Liu spent ten days hunting and cultivating in the Ten Thousand Mountains, strengthening his Primal Qi Liquid before heading deeper into the mountains.
• Jiang Liu sensed people preparing an altar in the forest, investigated from a distance, and retreated before Gui Shan arrived.
• Gui Shan led the Ghost School’s soul-summoning ritual, using soul-guiding incense and Soul Absorption Fruits to draw in and distribute Mental Particles.
• Jiang Liu found that he could no longer absorb Mental Particles and guarded his mental sea when the particles nearly dragged it out.
• Gui Shan saw that the Ghost School members had grown stronger, while Jiang Liu remained troubled by the mysterious disturbance.

Dao Sheng confronted Gui Shan at the Ghost School altar, and the two Grandmasters fought as Jiang Liu cultivated nearby. Jiang Liu fled far from their battle, then wondered why he could not sense any Spirit Power Particles.

• Dao Sheng arrived at the altar and attacked the Ghost School gathering, but Gui Shan blocked his horsetail whisk and challenged him to fight.
• Gui Shan and Dao Sheng conjured enormous fighters that exchanged blows while the Ghost School disciples retreated from the shockwaves.
• Dao Sheng and Gui Shan fought with their techniques, and Dao Sheng’s attacks proved stronger, forcing Gui Shan to stagger back.
• Gui Shan invoked his sect master’s nearby presence, but Dao Sheng mocked the threat and the two resumed their fierce battle.
• Jiang Liu sensed the Grandmasters fighting, flew thirty or forty li away, and wondered why Spirit Power Particles were absent.

Dao Sheng defeated Gui Shan, but Feng rescued him and Dao Yan allowed them to leave amid concerns about the Buddhist School. The next morning, Jiang Liu resumed exploring and cultivating in the mountains after avoiding the battle.

• Dao Sheng overpowered Gui Shan, who tried to flee before Feng appeared and rescued him from Dao Sheng's finishing blow.
• Dao Yan arrived and blocked Feng's escape, but he let Feng and Gui Shan go after Gui Shan hinted that he had a clue and Feng warned that the Buddhist School might exploit a prolonged fight.
• Dao Yan explained that Jiekong was forming alliances, then asked Dao Sheng to return to the Dao School and mentioned that Qingyunzi had risen onto the Ascension Rankings.
• A woman marked with a plum blossom appeared after Dao Yan and Dao Sheng left, regretting that the fight had not ended with one of them dead.
• Jiang Liu woke from meditation, avoided the area after sensing several Grandmaster auras, and continued exploring and cultivating deeper in the mountains.

Jiang Liu pursued a wounded Three-Eyed Flying Tiger into the mountains and discovered a hidden passage inside a hollow tree. After cutting through a stone door, he entered a concealed chamber and was captivated by what he saw.

• Luo Hui learned from Liu Changfeng that the Lotus Sect was connected to the martial practitioner disappearances, but its Wind City base remained unknown.
• Jiang Liu encountered a Lesser Beast King, the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, and suffered an injury while fighting it.
• Jiang Liu wounded the tiger with a concealed Ice Blade and a saber technique, then pursued it through the forest.
• Jiang Liu lost the tiger's trail and discovered that a slash had opened a passage inside a hollow tree.
• Jiang Liu followed the passage to a stone door, cut through it, and entered a hidden chamber.

Jiang Liu explored the ruined underground refuge of the Mystic Sky Sect and found a hidden garden filled with century-old herbs and fruit. After checking the refuge and its surroundings, he decided to cultivate there until he had refined all the medicinal herbs.

• Jiang Liu searched the storage rooms and corridors, finding the remains of dozens of dead practitioners and signs that the underground refuge had been looted.
• Jiang Liu broke through a wall after detecting a strange fragrance and discovered a concealed underground garden with five fruit trees and medicinal herbs.
• Jiang Liu found a disciple’s notebook dating the refuge to the Zhenghe Era and learned that the Mystic Sky Sect had secretly trained disciples because it faced a powerful enemy.
• Jiang Liu explored the main passage and emerged from a cliff into a barren valley, where he found corpses, damaged mechanisms, and evidence of an attack.
• Jiang Liu returned to the refuge, confirmed its ventilation, food, and water supplies, and decided to cultivate there until he had refined all the herbs.

After more than half a year of seclusion, Jiang Liu returned to Wind City and learned that Luo Hui had died in an ambush, leaving the Martial Prohibition Hall unable to control the city. He headed to the Wang Family after hearing how badly the city’s order had collapsed.

• Jiang Liu finished cultivating in the Ten Thousand Mountains, refined the remaining materials in the secret chamber, and returned to Wind City on the Frostwing Dragon.
• Jiang Liu reached his courtyard and discovered two thieves ransacking the neighboring home, so he knocked them unconscious and questioned them.
• Thief A told Jiang Liu that Feng Yi had punished a previous intruder and warned people away from his courtyard.
• The thieves revealed that Luo Hui had died in an ambush against the Lotus Sect, Li Qianfan had been severely injured, and Liu Changfeng had taken charge of the Martial Prohibition Hall.
• Jiang Liu realized the Hall could no longer keep Wind City in order, released the thieves, and went to the Wang Family.

Jiang Liu learned about Wind City's turmoil and the Martial Prohibition Hall's destruction of the Pang Family, then collected the Giant Strength Demonic Ape from Ascension Tower. Murong Lie began explaining his concerns about Ascension Tower and Wind City's situation to Murong Yin.

• Wang Jian told Jiang Liu about Wind City's current state, and Jiang Liu returned home to consider the chaos among the city's factions.
• At Leisurely Abode, Jiang Liu heard that the Martial Prohibition Hall had destroyed the Pang Family after Li Qianfan recovered and led a team against them.
• Jiang Liu saw refugees begging and following martial artists through the streets before heading to Ascension Tower to collect his Exotic Beast.
• Murong Yin stumbled into Jiang Liu's arms while teasing the Giant Strength Demonic Ape, and Jiang Liu teased her before taking the ape and its meat away.
• Murong Lie found Murong Yin watching Jiang Liu leave and began discussing Ascension Tower's situation and Wind City's turmoil with her.

Jiang Liu went to meet Feng Boyun at the Feng Family residence, where rumors mistakenly spread that he had come to discuss marrying Feng Yue. Feng Boyun warned Jiang Liu that several factions were preparing to make trouble in Wind City and revealed that he knew Jiang Liu had arranged matters with the Wang Family.

• Jiang Liu returned to his courtyard with the Giant Strength Demonic Ape, then Feng Yi arrived and told him that Feng Boyun wanted to see him.
• Feng Yunli escorted Jiang Liu to the Feng Family residence, where servants spread a rumor that Jiang Liu had come to discuss his marriage to Feng Yue.
• Feng Yue heard the rumor, assumed it was a misunderstanding, and blamed Feng Yi while he enjoyed himself on Wine Blossom Street.
• Feng Boyun welcomed Jiang Liu, brewed tea, and warned him that Corpse Valley and the White Saint Society were preparing a counterattack.
• Feng Boyun told Jiang Liu that the Lotus Sect had allied with Buddhist and other Jianghu sects, and that he knew Jiang Liu had arranged matters with the Wang Family.
• Feng Boyun advised Jiang Liu to watch out for the Lotus Sect's Core Disciple who had proposed a marriage alliance with Feng Yue.

Feng Boyun invited Jiang Liu to represent the Feng Family in a coming Martial Arts Tournament, but Jiang Liu decided to consider it rather than commit. They also discussed a past battle between the Dao School and Ghost School, leaving Jiang Liu wary of both sects and curious about the Ghost School’s soul cultivation.

• Feng Boyun told Jiang Liu that the three sects were organizing a Martial Arts Tournament in Qian Province and asked him to represent the Feng Family.
• Jiang Liu learned the tournament’s age and rank requirements, provincial qualifying process, and rewards, including secret arts and a True Inheritor Disciple position.
• Jiang Liu declined to commit to the Feng Family and told Feng Boyun he would think about participating.
• Feng Boyun explained that Dao Sheng and Gui Shan had fought after Dao Sheng discovered the Ghost School summoning souls, and warned Jiang Liu not to provoke either sect.
• Jiang Liu asked Feng Boyun about cultivation and the Grandmaster Realm, then left the Feng Family residence with Feng Yunli.

Jiang Liu received Wang Jian’s reports, then killed three Rank 9 Martial Practitioners who attacked him after a meeting between the White Saint Society, Lotus Sect, and Buddhist Sect. His fight drew the attention of Feng Boyun and Murong Lie, and he returned to Wind City at dawn unaware that he had been exposed.

• Jiang Liu found the Giant Strength Demonic Ape pinning seven people in his courtyard, ordered it to release them, and resumed cultivating.
• Wang Jian asked Jiang Liu about absorbing smaller forces and bringing members of the Hai Family to Wind City, and Jiang Liu approved both decisions.
• Three Rank 9 Martial Practitioners attacked Jiang Liu, who killed them after learning they belonged to a joint conspiracy involving the White Saint Society, the Lotus Sect, and the Buddhist Sect.
• Jiang Liu went to the forest outside the South City gate to meditate, while Feng Boyun admired his strength and Murong Lie recognized him as the mysterious expert.
• Jiang Liu disposed of the weapons and other items at dawn and walked back into Wind City.

Jiang Liu learned that a proposal to make Confucian cultivation the primary path had provoked unrest across Great Qian, then took the Giant Strength Demonic Ape to the Ten Thousand Mountains and released it. He returned to Wind City and resumed training as the land grew more chaotic and he resolved to become strong enough to control his own fate.

• Jiang Liu heard that the court-backed proposal to prioritize Confucian cultivation and abolish other martial arts had enraged Martial Practitioners across Great Qian.
• Jiang Liu considered the alliance of Corpse Valley, the White Saint Society, the Lotus Sect, and Buddhism against the Martial Prohibition Hall, along with the Wang and Hai Families’ growing ambitions.
• Jiang Liu led the Giant Strength Demonic Ape out of Wind City and released it in the Ten Thousand Mountains, where it eventually headed deeper into the forest.
• Jiang Liu returned to Wind City and saw the expanding slave market and crowded Ascension Tower before going home.
• Jiang Liu began his daily cultivation, determined to grow stronger after remembering how powerless he had felt before Tianming and a Grandmaster.

Jiang Liu learned that Corpse Valley and three other factions had destroyed the Wind City Martial Prohibition Hall, then went to Ascension Tower after Murong Lie invited him. Feng Boyun also ordered Feng Yunshi to have Feng Yue grow closer to Jiang Liu, despite Jiang Liu already being engaged to her.

• Jiang Liu saw the Martial Prohibition Hall burning and learned from Feng Boyun that Corpse Valley, the White Saint Society, the Lotus Sect, and the Buddhist Sect had attacked it.
• Murong Lie invited Jiang Liu to visit Ascension Tower, then learned from Feng Boyun that Jiang Liu was engaged to Feng Yue.
• Feng Boyun told Feng Yunshi to have Feng Yue take the initiative to get closer to Jiang Liu, frustrating Feng Yunshi.
• Jiang Liu heard that the Martial Prohibition Hall's people had been wiped out and that Corpse Valley had taken their corpses.
• Jiang Liu finished breakfast at Leisurely Abode and headed to Ascension Tower.